Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Kenmore

9:00 PM - Vigil, followed by a gala Agape
(Overflow parking is available across the street in the Bethany parking lot)

Festive Easter music by the choir, and guest trumpeter Judson Jay Scott will perform solos by Hovhanness and Telemann.

From the 1st Century, the Church’s primary celebration of the Resurrection has taken place in the middle of the night on Saturday. It was at this liturgy that the majority of people were baptized. It is the central festival and core of the Church Year.

The Great Vigil of Easter consists of four parts:

1. The Liturgy of Light
2. The Liturgy of Salvation History
3. Christian Initiation
4. Holy Communion

In Roman times, it was the custom to extinguish all fires and lamps when a member of the household had died. The kindling of a “new fire” indicated the period of mourning was ended.

Following that custom, the Great Vigil begins in the Memorial Garden. A new fire is kindled and blessed.

A large candle (called the Paschal Candle) is prepared and blessed. This Paschal Candle represents the resurrection life and light of the Risen Christ.

The Paschal Candle is lit from the new fire.

The watercourse in the Memorial Garden symbolizes the dividing line between Life after Death and this earthly life. The Paschal Candle is carried in procession across the watercourse, recalling that the Risen Christ has brought Resurrection Life into our earthly lives. We all follow the Candle in procession to the sealed doors, responding to the sung words “The Light of Christ” with “Thanks be to God”.

At the doors, the seal is broken. (The Risen Christ has broken the bounds of death and the grave.)

We follow the Paschal Candle into the nave, pausing to receive our own candles. Once we are in the pews, the Paschal Candle is brought to the ends of the pews. Those on the ends light their candles and pass the light on to others in the pew. Soon the room is ablaze with light, reminding us all of the new light and life given to us in Baptism.

The Paschal Candle is placed on its stand. An ancient hymn of praise extolling God’s saving actions in the Passover, Exodus and Resurrection is sung.

Then a series of presentations are performed, tracing Salvation History in the Old Testament.

Next, the latest chapter in salvation history is written as Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows takes place.

A very brief interlude follows. This interlude is concluded with a powerful musical selection.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 16th, 2008 at 4:33 pm and is filed under Easter, Events, Liturgy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.